you know what.. Drummer's First Time Hearing - Yes - Heart of the Sunrise Reaction/Review 

Bill Bruford said in his memoir that Jon Anderson insisted on giving him a writing credit on this song which he still greatly appreciates to this day.

That is definitely Bill Bruford! He doesn't just work the rhythm section, his drumming moves a song to new heights

We were just a bunch of high school kids starting a band in 1971 when YES blew our minds. Our drummer kept insisting we should take a run at Heart of the Sunrise. For obvious reasons, we never did more than screw around with little bits of it. For a band of our quality, it would take us about a week and a half, playing non stop, to play this one note for note. This stuff both inspired and humbled a whole generation of musicians. Fifty years later, it's still magic.

Chris Squire is the GOAT of bass players IMO and many others enjoy! YES is the greatest prog band ever.

Everyone's favorite YES song is the one they just listened to.

The syncopation of the drumming is really something, ain't it? As he's going it sounds like he's just creating as he's going with the way he plays snare. It's the way I've always felt about it because as you go along through different verses he's catching different beats with the snare. And the rudimentals are SHARP. His rolls, flams, etc..... impeccable.

repeat after me - Bill Bruford. The most influential rock drummer of all times.

That bass and keyboard work blows me away! Brilliant pauses and excellent rising star in tempo. And not to leave out Jon Anderson's vocals!

Squire and Bruford had that Tightest sound in prog rock history imo

Alan White is a terrific rock drummer. Bill Bruford is a drum genius.

Bill Bruford - my favourite drummer of all time

Time to return to the greatest band ever, at the best time in their career. This is what I consider the quintessential lineup, and this song. One of my all time favorites. Let us never forget to simply say yes to Y E S .

Bill Bruford was on drums. He had a habit of taking the part he learned with the band and sort of flipping it over and writing another part (without telling the rest of the band), and learning that part. Then he would flip THAT part over and write a third part and take that back to the band UNANNOUNCED. Squire would KEEP UP WITH THAT!!!!!

Josh listen to South side of the sky from this album Fragile. Bill was a Jazz drummer you hear his influences. Alan White came later Tales From Topographic Oceans in 73.

The first song I ever heard from yes! How could one ever pick a favorite Yes song???

For 52 yrs old this song holds up pretty well. Quite well even. Sharp Distance

One of my favorite Yes songs. Because of Chris Squire !!

YES, SIR... it was Mr. Bill Bruford, which in my opinion is one of the BEST drummer's out there!!! ;)

It is indeed Bill Bruford on drums - he played on the first five Yes albums (through "Close to the Edge"), and on roughly half of their live album "Yessongs" released following "Close to the Edge". Bruford left Yes to join King Crimson. He later played with Genesis, ABWH (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe), and others. Alan White came on board just prior to the "Close to the Edge" tour, plays on roughly half of "Yessongs", and his first studio album with Yes is "Tales from Topographic Oceans", the follow-up to "Close to the Edge". Alan White played on more consecutive Yes albums than any member except Chris Squire who played on all Yes albums recorded / released prior to his death. White did session work (and toured as a hired drummer) prior to joining Yes, most famously perhaps drumming on John Lennon's "Instant Karma" (also "Imagine") Bruford and White are both featured on the 1991 Yes album "Union", which included the then current lineup of Yes along with ABWH.

The intro, to me, is a hidden or disguised drum solo. The insane guitar and base repeats relentlessly with Bruford supplying subtle variations to every riff. Wakeman's coloring varies subtley as well, making each repetition delicious in a new way. God, I love this song!!!

My favourite Yes song! It has everything ... melody, drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals. And FIRE!!! This song is almost unbearably beautiful! The ultimate Yes song in my view.

It always makes me happy seeing people listen to Yes for the first time. You're never the same afterward! Bruford and Squire are the best rock rhythm section you'll ever hear. And don't worry about trying to make sense of the lyrics. Jon Anderson wrote lyrics for how they sounded as much as for what they meant. They paint pictures more than they tell a story, letting each listener find a unique meaning.

Thanks Josh. Bill Bruford the progressive master played drums. He quit after "Close To The Edge", and Alan White took his place. Keep plugging through their 40 year long list of hits. I think you will really like "Siberian Khatru." There's a version from the Yessongs live album that I think is better than the studio version for the energy and the fact that they pulled it all off on stage.

It is indeed Bill Bruford on drums. As others here have already mentioned, he is one of the greatest drummers of all time. He came from the jazz tradition and his fills often reflect that. His influences are many but predominantly, Ginger Baker (Cream), Art Blakey and Max Roach. Most people new to Yes start with 'Roundabout' from Fragile as a good 'shock' intro. Just listen to Chris Squire on bass on this track. The classic Yes albums, IMO, are The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, Yessongs, Tales from Topographic Oceans and Relayer. Going for the One has some good tracks too as does the first album and Time and a Word. The first album has some cool jazzy songs. It's great to watch younger people discovering Yes and other superb bands of the late 60s through the early 70s. They can't believe how ahead of their time they sound. Once you've checked out the above albums, listen to King Crimson, Genesis and Gentle Giant. Then have a listen to the Mahavishnu Orchestra with Billy Cobham on drums. Enjoy your road of discovery.

So, watching all of these reaction videos to Yes music, I realize that 50-year-old Yes is the cure to what Rick Beato calls the current "Era of Low Information Music" -- The Yes Album and Fragile and Close to the Edge and Tales from Topographic Oceans and Relayer and Going for the One are like salves to the soul after a long dark night. It is very gratifying to watch these young people discovering, for the first time, what some of us have been digging for 50 years (OK, busted, I discovered Yes only 48 years ago, at the age of 9).

Josh, your reaction was fun to watch. Enjoy your energy and appreciation of the musicianship! 👏👏👍👍😁😁

Bill Bruford back before he went to electric drums.. his best performances were back then IMO

It’s humbling listening to a piece of Music as good as this. That’s almost 40 years I been listening to this song. A Masterpiece

“ How can the wind with so many around me , be lost in the city ? “ How beautiful. That is humanity , right there.

I think a lot of folks think they are drummers until they hear this. This is pretty much perfection in rock drumming. And one of the most amazing meldings of drum and bass ever. For more amazing examples of this kind of light, expressive drumming, check out John Maclaughlin's "New York on my Mind" and ELP's "Lucky Man".

Great reaction to one of my most favorite Yes songs. Keep the early Yes coming, and Genesis, ELP, etc. A note to reactors...do a little homework before reacting, find out what year the song/album was done, where does it fit in the bands output, who are the musicians. These are all great details and will deepen your appreciation.

You being a drummer, I knew you would appreciate Bill's playing. He is such an intelligent drummer and does such interesting fills, along with polyrhythmic playing. He almost never plays a bar the same, there is always something a little different. I'm sure you would enjoy many other songs from the Bruford era of Yes. Yours Is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper from the previous album, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround/The Fish and Roundabout from this album. There are many others. Alan brought a more straight ahead rock drumming style to Yes and even though I like Bill's style better, Alan does excellent work with Yes as well. I see you have many Rush reactions already. Yes was a big influence for Rush. Geddy cites Chris Squire as one of his major influences. When Yes came to Toronto for the first time, Alex and Geddy lined up all night to get second row tickets. Geddy said that Yes was the only band he ever lined up all night for.

I still think you should do sound chaser from relayer . Allan white plays on the relayer album. In saying that William bruford has been one of my favorite drummers for ever.

YES it is Bill...Try some of Bill's Solo stuff...He's a machine! Also, Check out his years with King Crimson! "DO IT!!!"

My friends and I had the same reaction hearing this 40+ years ago. We were just dumfounded. "What did we just listen to?" Was pretty much our response as well. It really gave me lift to watch your face change as you listened:)

This is one of those songs I wish more people reacted to - I've known of this song since I was young and it took me *years* to understand what was happening on those opening drum fills. I loved being confused by Bill Bruford's jazz drumming. And his kit sounds fantastic on these early Yes albums. (And yeah, it's definitely not Alan White)

They had several drummers and Allen was great, but this was Bill all the way. He also played with Genesis, King Crimson, and Gong. Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Who, ELP... the musicianship from that era was amazing.

I'm not drummer but the first time listening this song in 90's I was blown away with Bill drum work.

If you haven’t seen a documentary called Bill Bruford and The Beat you should check it out. It shows his process for creating polyrhythmic drum tracks and it made me believe he is the greatest western drummer of all time.

The bass and drums in the first part are just amazing - then the bass to guitar transition at 5:24 is the most beautiful in prog rock.

Funniest comment: "I have already heard Roundabout like, since a long time ago. The first time I heard Roundabout was like, when I was like 18, so like 3 years ago." I first heard Roundabout a long time ago, like 50 years!

William Bruford. Christopher Squire. Richard Wakeman. Stephen James Howe. Jon Anderson. Ultimate Yes. Absolutely impeccable impeccable

I don't think many, if any, drummer/bassist combinations meet the level of perfection expressed in the first four minutes of this track.

Bill Bruford is also on many King Crimson albums:Please listen to the album Discipline!

Grade school and junior high in the 60s and high school in the 70s. I lived during a remarkable time in music. Beatles, Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP. Steppenwolf (Don't Step On The Grass Sam), Yes, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Moody Blues and on and on and on. Ringo, Bill Bruford, John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Neil Peart and on and on and on. Woodstock! Damn it was a great show! And I still get to listen to them all to this day! And indeed Josh, this piece by Yes blew me away the first time I heard it. This song would be nowhere as great as it is without Bill Bruford!! Bruford and Chris Squire were incredible. Chris and his Rickenbacker. This was fun watching your reaction. Thank you for this show.

Bill Bruford played drums on this Album. He left for King Crimson after close to the edge album. Alan White replaced him on Tales of Topographic Oceans.

Bill Brufford was the drummer for Yes on this album and the one following it (Close to the Edge). After that, he left Yes to join King Crimson, and Yes hired Alan White, who was also a monster. And I rofl at your reactions; I, too, tried to play the "what's that time sig?" game with Yes. I could do it, too.

A reação mais genuína de alguém, ouvindo à esta música... Curti!

That is Bill Bruford. He also did some incredible work with King Crimson, as well as performing live with Genesis, before they settled on Chester Thompson (who is also an incredible drummer, on of the drummers who played with Frank Zappa.) Then he moved more towards jazz, and if you want to hear some more incredible work, listen to the first UK album, which featured Alan Holdsworth on guitar, and that's another artist who will blow your mind. Then there was the band "Bruford" which included Jeff Berlin on bass and Alan. Finally, several "versions" of his band "Earthworks."

It's fun watching you lose your balance every time the tempo transitions. After you listen to it a few times those transitions will be eagerly anticipated. After 53 years I still love Yes even more than I did then. Magic performed by magicians. I am still working on deciphering the lyrics.

Your reaction at 2:45 is exactly what I was looking for, just unreal stuff from Bill

Any other drummer wouldn't have played that anything NEAR what Bill Bruford did. His feel with syncopation at that time was simply amazing. It's just such unique playing against the backdrop of a rock song.

This was the album that got me interested in really listening to music. Even at 13 I could tell the each member was amazing and that each one had a chance to standout on this album. They each had well deserved solo moments. Love watching people hearing them for the first time. As for the lyrics, Jon Anderson added lyrics after the music was created and viewed the sound of the words as just another piece of the music. From this I gather that the meaning was secondary to the sound. Whatever, it worked for me!

Hi Josh, great to see you react to another Yes classic. With Heart of the Sunrise I could see you can hardy believe your ears. And that is now in 2021, just think how we reacted in 1973! For us this music was from a far different place in the distant future. So great and up lifting. The whole Fragile album is an amazing experience. Bill Bruford was the drummer for Yes for the Fragile album. Great reaction and look forward to your next Yes adventure.

Interesting take-I once saw a rhythm guitar instructional video by Jeff Baxter where he said in certain situations you can play the guitar like a drum set, and in this tune by Yes Bill Bruford is playing the drum set like it is the lead melodic instrument. A lot of songs have drums doubling on the bass parts, but this song has the drums doubling on all instrument lead parts about 75% of the time. It definitely made me rethink drum parts and what can be done melodically with them.

How about that bass??? YEE HAA! What a collection of amazing musicians.

Bill Bruford is an amazing drummer, absolutely. He has drummed with Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson, to mention a few. Yes regularly swapped out members of the band and they would leave, come back, leave, come on tour…so you will see multiple drummers, vocalists, keyboardists etc listed but for most of it Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, and Chris Squire were always there.

Alan White became drummer after Fragile & Close To The Edge. Bruford is immortalized in these 2 albums especially. To me, upon 1st hearing Fragile one night I said to my buddy, "This is a great change in music, akin to The Beatles.

I still remember the first time I heard this. I was and remain completely blown away at the level of musicianship on display here and how in sync each of the elite players are throughout the song. Yes at their best. And Bruford's use of space in unreal.

I saw Yes in Fairfax, VA in 1991. They had several extra players on that tour (all official Yes members from one album or another). Jon Anderson (the singer) said during the show that "Heart of the Sunrise" was the one song that all eight members insisted that they play on... and all eight of them did!

That actually WASNT the end of the song... Wait 10-15 secs and youll hear the end...and yes Dr. Bruford on drums moved this song forward like the champ he is.

Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has undergone numerous formations throughout its history; nineteen musicians have been full-time members

Yes in every variation has always had 5 of the greatest musicians that ever picked up an instrument. Chris Squire was such an amazing player. He treated the bass like a lead guitar, always adding a dimension to the songs that simply would not have existed with an ordinary bass player. Rick Wakeman, what can you say? IMO the greatest rock keyboardist of all time (Sorry Keith Emersion, but your catalog can't hold a candle to Rick's). Steve Howe, what a master at the guitar. If he got paid by the note, he would be a multi-billionaire. Bill & Alan, two of the best percussionists of all time. Can't say which I prefer style-wise, but they both are fantastic. You should watch some of their "Live" videos, this band could play all this material live and not take a step back from the studio versions. That is pretty amazing. There are many more songs by Yes that you should explore, there was no 'filler' on any of their albums, all well written and recorded and just as outstanding as the more 'popular' ones. Enjoy the ride. Sooner or later you will hear 'Starship Trooper' and 'Awaken', then you will become completely 'Yesified'.

Not to shabby...saw this played live at least 10 times..

Please take a listen to Bill's post-Yes band, Bruford. It's serious jazz fusion that also introduced the world to Allan Holdsworth (guitar), Jeff Berlin (bass) and Dave Stewart (keys, not the Eurythmics guy).

Bill Bruford was also the drummer on Close to the Edge.

Loads of good YES music left to go. "The Gates of Delirium", "Awaken". "Turn of the Century", "That, That Is", "The Revealing Science of God" (Live version on the Keys to Ascension album is best). just play whole albums. It's all good. Keep up the YES reactions. Lets get more people to listen to their great music.

Go to Yes induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and you will see Bill Bruford standing right behind Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman when they are giving their speeches. Also....Rick Wakeman is absolutely the funniest when he gives his acceptance speech. It is hilarious and one of the best I've ever seen. Oh and yes this is Bill Bruford on the drums here. He developed a style all his own and it is so much enjoyment listening to him play. Bill was in King Crimson many years.

Agreed. Bruford was the hero of this song. BB's choices really tie all of the diverse sections together.

Bruford can play anything! Alan White is great, too!

Drum track is here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-smv42mWtb50.html. He never repeats anything exactly the same. Always adding a little different flavor.

On this album YES were on the cusp of being the reason we needed prog rock. Their next album just blew the game apart.

Although this song is one of my favourites by Yes, it wasn't a hit and certainly not 'one of their greatest hits'. It has to move up the charts to gain that status. Great reaction!

A classic recording that changed music - now compare this with any of the "dribble" that is on the radio today - oh how the mighty have fallen ...

I love many drummers. Bill Bruford is at the top of the list, and the rest start at number 25. He takes up the ENTIRE top 25 alone, by himself. People have reasons for liking drummers. They play fast. They have a big kit. For me, Bruford takes it because of the times he doesn't hit as much as when he does. He plays what I feel in my soul.

You probably know by now that Bill was in Yes until after Close To The Edge. Make sure to check out the rest of Bruford's history after Yes. It only gets better.

As soon as I heard you say "What is this time signature?" I knew I had to suggest the entire album "Time Out" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Blue Rondo a la Turk and Take Five are the best known, but the whole album is great (and experimental in time signatures).

This is only my second video of yours I've seen. It's nice to get a drummer's point of view. But I have to ask if you've heard King Crimson's first album, In The Court Of The Crimson King. Michael Giles is one hell of a drummer as well.

Yup. Bruford. Allan White took over from him after the Close to the Edge album. Neil Schellen has been supporting them in your recently. All are amazing. For some of Allan White’s genius, check out the Relayer album. And yes, transitions and dynamics. Awesome.

We have smoked many a bowl listening to Yes. The greatest prog band of all time

Drum sticks of gold!

My friend always played air drums to this song.

What can I say?! Loved this band when I was 15/16 back in the mid 70s! But then I grew up and discovered so much other great music that touched!!! My soul so much more big time!!.. Xx

Starship Trooper is a must.

Ironically the inventive pattern deconstructions Bruford was famous for, drove his band mate Robert Fripp in King Crimson, crazy at times lol.

Yes stood alone. No band moved me like them. Pink Floyd came pretty close but when it came to the crafting of music as an art form Yes was not matched by anyone.

If you haven't in a checklist already, listen their first album bro. A more rocky style over prog. But a masterpiece, I don't recommend any track in especific, check the whole album

私が大好きな曲をあなたが一緒に楽しんでくれたことを嬉しく思います。

its Sir Bill Bruford to you son.

Bruford was a master!❤

This was the track that totally nailed me to Yes. I had heard the previous album but was not really convinced, probably because I did not like Jon Anderson's vocals. But for me the bass and mellotron on this track along with the improved JA vocals totally won me over. Go Yes!!

starship trooper, it's michael from rec. center and music

Hi josh as a drummer myself of many years bruford is my go to drummer check out his king crimson work and his jazz outfit earthworks,enjoy young man.

Nothing against Allen White but Bruford was such a big part the Yes sound. The sound was not the same when he left.

There's a RU-vid video of isolated bass and drums for this track. Just do it, trust me. Bruford/Squire, the best ever rhythm section, at their best, IMHO.

I feel bad for the younger generation . A young drummer only discovering Bill Bruford for the first time in 2022

Drummer was Bill Bruford. Bass Chris Squire singer Jon Anderson keyboards Rick Wakeman and guitarist Steve Howe

Yes music is either pre-White or post-Bruford--never mind that third name, forget it actually. That is how one might begin to understand the music of Yes. From there, the results (musically) from the additional change of musicians, beginning with the third album, are easily understood. I am biased as a former drummer.

Bill Bruford is the drummer on this song and album, "Fragile." If you are going to be YES fan....you must interpret their lyrics which deep and tells the listener of where the message of the group is expressing which is humanity's struggle to obtain LOVE in Perfection.

Bill is amazing!